Organized Crime Ring’s Fruit-Snatching Scheme Unravels in Martin County
A traveling crime ring that had been targeting saw palmetto berries across Florida hit a major roadblock in Martin County, thanks to a vigilant agricultural detective unit. The group, which had been surveilling local farms and private property, found themselves on the wrong side of the law after their “berry-bountiful heist” turned into a chaotic bust.
The crew traveled into the county and set their sights on a property near SW Citrus Blvd. What they didn’t know was that Martin County Sheriff’s Office Ag Unit detectives were already tracking their movements, anticipating the heist. When the 11 suspects moved in to steal the valuable berries, they were met not with a payday, but with a full-scale police operation.
The arrests weren’t without a struggle. As all 11 suspects attempted to resist and evade capture, a chaotic “berry rumble” ensued, leading to multiple taser deployments. When the dust settled, all suspects were in handcuffs, thanks to the combined efforts of the Agricultural Deputies, Special Investigations Division Detectives, and the Aviation Unit…